Portugal – country information

Country name	Portugal
Official name	Portuguese Republic
Capital	Lisbon
Continent	Europe
Area	91,982 km2
Population	10,487,289 (2012)
Foundation of a state	1/1/1143
The highest mountains	on the island of Pico 2,320 m, Estrela 1,991 m
Longest rivers	Tagus 910 km (225 km in the country), Douro 720 km (275 km in the country)
State system	a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Lisboa (capital) 850,000 (agglomeration 2 million), Porto 350,000 (agglomeration 1.4 million), Amadora 125,000
Official language	Portuguese
Ethnicity/National Composition	Portuguese 99%, Cape Verdeans 0.3%
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholics 95%, other Christians 1.5%, no religion 3.5%
Currency	1 euro = 100 cents
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$23,047 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	77.70 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 6%, mining and industry 29%, construction 7.5%, services 57.5%

Portugal – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
Spain	Madrid	505,992 km2	46,609,700

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Portugal occupies the western part of the Iberian (Iberian) Peninsula in southwestern Europe between the Atlantic Ocean and Spain. Its territory also includes the islands of Madeira and the Azores in the Atlantic.

Country data

Location: Western Europe

Time zone: CET – 1

Total area: 92,090 km²

Land area: 91,470 km²

Water area: 620 km²

Length of the state border: 1,214 km

including: Spain: 1,214 km

Coastline: 1,793 km

Capital: Lisbon

Districts: 20
Aveiro, Azores, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Madeira, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 351 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Ponta do Pico (in the Azores) 2,351 m

Population

Population: approx. 10.8 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.1% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 117

Life expectancy: 76 (male), 82 (female)

Official language: Portuguese

Religions:

• 81% Roman Catholic
• 19% other

Climate

In the north there is an Atlantic climate. The humidity is very high and there is a lot of rain (especially in the winter months).

Southern Portugal has a warm Mediterranean climate. The summer months are warm (20-25 ° C) and dry. During the winter months it is cool with temperatures of around 10-16 ° C.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: € / Euro (EUR)

Division: 1 € = 100 cents

ATMs: Available in many cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

From an equivalent value of 10,000 euros, all amounts of money carried must be declared.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

There is currently no country-specific safety notice for Portugal.

Economy

Portugal is one of the largest cork producers in the world and exports it to many countries outside of the European Union.

Although around two thirds of the population work in agriculture, this area is only marginally efficient. Mainly potatoes, corn, tomatoes and wheat are grown.

Industries: building materials, chemistry, fishing, wood processing, agriculture, food production, textiles, tourism

Natural resources: iron ores, fish, wood, farmland, uranium, hydropower

Land use:

• Land: 26%
• Grain cultivation: 9%
• Pasture area: 9%
• Forests: 36%
• other: 20%

Azores

The Azores is an autonomous region in Portugal. The region occupies an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean.

The administrative center is Ponta Delgada. The official language is Portuguese.

The name of the islands comes from the Portuguese word “azures” – meaning “blue” or “azure”.

The climate is subtropical maritime. Temperature in winter +19*C, in summer +25*C. Water temperature +20*С.

Resorts and attractions of the Azores

It is an archipelago of 9 volcanic islands. The Azores lie in the center of the Atlantic Ocean, 900 km. off the coast of Portugal. It is said that the first Azores were discovered in 1427, but this fact is disputed. There is a belief that the island of Corvo was known to the Carthaginians as far back as 3000 BC. e.

Those who love a relaxing holiday should visit the Azores. Here you will come into contact with pristine nature, there is no modern infrastructure and luxurious five-star hotels. Beautiful weather, volcanic beaches and delicious local food await you.